Advisor Conflicts of Interest: Topics to Clarify Before You Engage a Financial Professional
Conflicts of interest are not rare, but they should be visible. These are the topics worth clarifying with any financial advisor before you engage them.
Capivise insights
Ideas for sharper advisor conversations.
Read practical guides for business sales, real estate exits, equity liquidity, windfalls, and other moments where the right advisor questions matter.
tax planning
1031 exchange
business sale
financial advisor
advisor-coordination
equity compensation
liquidity event
exit planning
capital gains
estate planning
What Happens to Your Account If Your Financial Advisor Retires or Sells Their Practice
An advisor transition, retirement, a sale, a move to a new firm, changes more than who you call. Topics worth reviewing before it happens.
Fee-Only vs. Fee-Based Advisors: Topics to Clarify Before You Choose
The terms sound almost identical, but the compensation structures behind them are not. Here is what actually differs and what to ask about.
Discretionary vs Non-Discretionary Advisors: What the Difference Actually Means
Discretionary and non-discretionary authority define how much control you keep over an account, and what to clarify before you grant either one.
Form ADV and Form CRS: What These Disclosures Actually Tell You About an Advisor
What Form ADV and Form CRS actually disclose about an advisor's fees, conflicts, and history, and how to read both before your first meeting.
Financial Advisor Credentials: What CFP, CFA, CPA Require
Advisor credentials get listed on a business card without much explanation of what they actually took to earn. Here's what sits behind the most common ones.
Robo-Advisors vs Human Advisors: Topics to Clarify Before You Choose
A look at what robo-advisors and human advisors each actually do, and the questions worth clarifying before you pick a path for a major financial decision.
Registered Investment Adviser vs. Broker-Dealer: What the Fiduciary Difference Actually Means
Two titles that sound similar carry very different legal obligations. Here is what actually separates a fiduciary from a suitability standard.
Investment Policy Statements: Topics to Clarify With Your Advisor Before You Sign One
Before you sign an investment policy statement, it helps to understand what the document actually commits you and your advisor to.